Good nutrition is an essential part of preventing and treating kidney disease. If you are on dialysis for kidney disease, the goal of your physician will be to ensure that your diet maintains a balance of minerals, electrolytes and fluids in your body, according to the Medline Plus website. Upon diagnosis of kidney disease, your doctor is likely to supply you with dietary guidelines.
Limit Dairy Foods
When you have kidney disease, your intake of calcium and phosphorus is monitored closely since phosphorus levels may become too high, states the Medline Plus website. When they do, this causes the body to pull calcium from the bones and may bring on symptoms like itching. A restricted dairy diet is also followed by patients prone to kidney stones. Your doctor is likely to recommend eating dairy foods only in small amounts. You are not permitted large quantities of cheese, yogurt and milk. Low phosphorus dairy foods may be permitted, such as margarine, butter, cream cheese, heavy cream and brie.
Low Carb Diet
Your doctor may advise you to track the amount of carbohydrates in your diet if you suffer from chronic kidney disease as a result of diabetes. High carb diets spike the blood sugar levels and can lead to complications in kidney function. Complex carbohydrates consumed raise your blood sugar level at a slower rate than simple carbohydrates. Complex carbs include fruit, vegetables and whole grains, while simple carbs include refined breads and refined sugars. According to the National Kidney Foundation, blood sugar level can be controlled by eating the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal and eating at the same times each day.
Reduced Sodium Diet
When your kidneys are not functioning properly, extra sodium and fluid builds up inside of the body. Chronic kidney disease patients may notice swelling in their extremities or shortness of breath due to the excess fluid. The Medline Plus website recommends foods with less than 100 mg of sodium per serving. Foods to avoid include processed meals, table salt, soy sauce, fast food and canned goods. Instead of table salt, use pepper, garlic, onion powder and other seasonings to give food more flavor. Your doctor may also recommend limiting how much you drink if your kidneys are not functioning properly.
Low Potassium Diet
The kidneys control the potassium levels in your blood. According to the National Kidney Foundation, if the kidneys are not functioning properly, potassium levels can spike and put you at risk of a heart attack. Your doctor may advise avoiding or limiting the consumption of foods with more than 200 mg of potassium per serving. High potassium foods include potatoes, carrots, beets, orange juice, squash, chocolate, yogurt, figs, nuts and seeds. Soaking certain vegetables for several hours in warm water, a process known as leaching, can be done to remove some of the potassium from the vegetable states the National Kidney Foundation.
Protein Controlled Diet
The Medline Plus website recommends a daily intake of eight to ten ounces of high protein foods daily if you are on dialysis for chronic kidney disease. High protein diets help replace muscle and tissue lost during dialysis. Protein choices include egg whites, fish, chicken, turkey, pork, protein bars and protein shakes. Before dialysis, your doctor may tell you to follow a diet lower in protein. When you have chronic kidney disease, urea can build up in the body after eating foods high in protein states the National Kidney Foundation. Urea build-up causes symptoms such as fatigue and decreased appetite.
